Security Features for Plastic Identification Cards
Thank you for your continued interest in CompoSecure's security features for your secure card project. Following is a response to your inquiry relating to specific security features. The explanations and ideas below are generated from relevant experiences. Since a division of our business is specifically printed plastic security cards, the attempt is made to describe various security features as they relate to these cards. Features such as magnetic stripes and barcodes are absent from our descriptions, as they are fairly commonplace and in the case of barcodes, produced during the card personalization process. In this essay we will limit the discussion to features which are produced during the card production process (pre-personalization). By no means is this listing the full and complete list of security features offered. However, this essay provides a basis on which to plan your project and open further discussion.
The following are factors to consider when designing a secure identification card or document:
While it may be the most visible part of an entire security system, the card acts both as a visual element and as a data input device.
Then overall identification of an individual has been defined in three steps of security as:
- What you have (a card)
- What you know (a PIN number perhaps)
- What you are (verification of your biometric characteristics)
In very secure systems the card will play a small part, but a project cannot be launched without it. In addition, optical card features provide a background on the card for presentation of individual photo and data. In offline systems that have overt security only, the card securities become very important.
There are three main categories of optical security:
- Overt (Human visible)
- Covert (Visible with the aid of a simple device like a magnifier or UV light)
- Forensic (Detectable only by trained personnel and special equipment)
In addition to optical security, cards can incorporate electronic devices which can be read by direct contact or NFC (Near Field Communications; Contactless RFID). These electronics have incorporated their own internal security features. The purpose of incorporating security features in an identification card is to deter counterfeit threats. These include kitchen table petty counterfeiters, semi professionals using materials and methods with more or less off the shelf availability and well funded professionals including national governments.
Document attacks involve three different techniques:
- Alteration of existing real documents
- Creation of new counterfeit documents using pieces of existing or expired real documents
- Generation of complete counterfeit documents
Recommended approaches to create successful ID cards:
- Have the required number of security level features based on application and threat level
- Use a layered approach where two or more levels overlap each other like laser personalizing a card and demetallizing a hologram at the same time.
- Use controlled materials not available to the public or run on specialized uncommon production equipment.
- Use solid or cross-linking adhesives and inks so that the card will be durable such that it will be destroyed if attempted to be taken apart.
- Pass all ISO and regulatory testing including adversarial analysis.
- Ensure that the card will be consistently manufactured in a form readily identifiable by the public.
By combining singular features during the card manufacturing and personalization processes for each card project, we can effectively build the "ideal" security card for each application.
John H. Herslow, President
The following is a partial list of security features, a description and their effect on various methods of counterfeiting and use:
Guilloche Pattern – An intricate pattern of curvilinear fine lines which were originally created by an engine turning different gears, but is currently done with specialized security software which can incorporate specific anti-copy features. Guilloche printing is commonly used in currency design.
Rainbow Guilloche – Same as Guilloche Pattern and is used in conjunction with a color spectrum which gradually changes from color to color achieving a continuous effect across the surface of the card. A slightly higher level of security is achieved due to the fact that a high-end color copier is required to duplicate effectively.
Moiré Pattern – A design based pattern which super-imposes two patterns whose periodices are not identical. The effect is visually detected after utilizing a normal photocopier to reproduce the original pattern. The reproduced pattern induces a "moiré" or aliasing which immediately suggests the reproduced image is counterfeit. The original is produced utilizing digital image technology which differs from normal photocopy technology. This effectively "tricks" the photocopier and reveals the moiré in the reproduced pattern.
Microprint – Offset printed visual/machine readable text of particular size. The text is indecipherable without the use of a reading lens. Usually incorporated within the art to appear as a singular line. Often used to print misspelled words to fool counterfeiters who casually assume complete and correctly spelled microprint. The offset printed text is located under a translucent lamination for protection from abrasion. This feature is difficult to produce with clarity and resolution using a photocopier, scanner or dye sublimation printer.
UV Fluorescence – Offset printed covert visual/machine readable art or text which produces light when activated by an ultraviolet light source. This feature is normally undetectable to the naked eye and can be overlooked by the casual counterfeiter. The feature is not easily produced with simple equipment. Special fluorescence colors are available.
Watermark – A localized modification of the structure and opacity of plastic such that a pattern, text or design can be seen when the card is held to a light source. This is a machine readable feature (light source required, i.e. flashlight) which is substrate based within the laminations of the plastic. Usually undetectable by the casual counterfeiter, this feature is especially difficult to reproduce unless there is access to card specific production equipment.
Lightpipe – A substrate based machine readable feature requiring a light source to detect. This feature is produced using optical techniques which direct light to specific location(s) of the card (such as the edge). The effect is a brilliant light at the location different from where the light source is located (usually in a specific color). Since this feature involves specific translucent materials and optical design of substrates, the casual counterfeiter may never detect this feature and the professional will have a next to impossible task of recreating such a feature.
Laser Ablation/Engraving – This visual/substrate based feature can be either tactile or sub-surface depending upon the types of plastics employed. The feature can be either graphic or alpha-numeric. Using a laser, a pattern or alpha-numeric text is ablated into the sub-layers of a plastic card. Depending on the parameters of the laser system and the materials of card substrate, a tactile or sub-surface mark appears. This feature is particularly effective in serialization of cards to reduce the risk of lost or stolen cards. Every card is marked with an individual serial number and is therefore accounted for. The mark cannot be "scraped off" without noticeable damage to the card surface. Foil and Hologram cards with lasered features offer extra security, as any attempt to compromise the material destroys the hologram. A tactile surface is helpful in quick recognition of authenticity. Laser systems of such complexity are expensive, hence, difficult for a counterfeiter to obtain.
Metalized/HRI Holographic Stripes – This is a visual/substrate based feature which can also be machine readable. This feature uses a special metallized or High Refractive Index (transparent) holographic stripe (found commonly inside various currencies). These special stripes (up to 1/2" wide) can be machine readable to verify authenticity. This level of security feature is rather high since one would need to have access to both card manufacturing equipment and a source for holographic materials. These are both difficult to obtain.
The following is a partial list of Security Features that are available from CompoSecure, please note that customer supplied artwork is needed in some cases:
Overt Security Features:
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Covert Security Features:
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Forensic Security Features:
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